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Whidbey Lost Dogs List

Since this list was started a few years ago spam has been a constant annoyance. The problem is that in order to be effective, the messages people send

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, Jul 8, 2007

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Since this list was started a few years ago spam has been a constant
annoyance.

The problem is that in order to be effective, the messages people send
regarding lost or found dogs are time sensitive.

The Yahoo List Moderator (me) can set up the list so that any message
sent to the group needs to be approved by the moderator (me) first.
Since that will delay messages (I don't look at email or the web more
than once a day sometimes), I never turned it on.

There is also an option that allows only group members (you) to send an
email to the group. This might be the better option. The problem with
that is that someone who is not a member but has lost a dog may not know
how to join, and waste time trying to find out how, or find a member to
send the email for him. This could reduce spam since the spammers are
not usually members (unfortunately there are people who join and then
send non-dog related messages. I usually ban them when I discover it.)

There are currently 92 members on the list. Since May, there has been
one legitimate email about a lost dog, and over 150 spam emails. The
Yahoo list did catch about 23 emails that were spam and didn't send them
out. I cannot see a way to mark certain emails as spam (like the ones
touting OEM Software.) Since May, 7 members have unsubscribed. Happily,
the WAIF animal shelter is still on the list, so that important resource
is still available to the list.

If anyone on the list would like to be designated as a moderator and
commit to checking the queue frequently during the day, I would be happy
to give them access to the list and change the setting to not send
emails that are not approved first. Then we might be able to cut out
spam and still have legitimate messages go out quickly. It appears that
only two people can be designated for this authority. Let me know if you
are willing to take on this task.

Another option is for each member to not receive individual emails, but
one digest email at the end of each day. Again, it will delay real pleas
for help. You can alter your own setting on the Yahoo list for this.
You'll still see the spam, but it can be easily ignored.

I regret that the list has become a source of annoyance for some. It has
actually reunited a few lost pets with their family, so it does serve a
purpose. That might make the onslaught of unwanted emails a little more
bearable.

Ron Kerrigan

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